For He Zhilan, Bono and the rest’s arrival was like salvation. It wasn’t until this moment that she finally relaxed her clenched jaw, her vision going black as she collapsed into He Da’s arms. With her world spinning and blackness encroaching, she reached out and groped for Lihua’s hand, barely whispering, "Lihua, protect my brother. The beggar is my long-lost brother. Keep him safe."
After uttering these words, He Zhilan lost consciousness.
"Zhilan! Zhilan!" He Da, seeing Zhilan motionless in his arms, was panic-stricken. "Wake up, Zhilan, I’m okay."
"Leave some people here to wait for the police, and the rest come with me to take He Zhilan and her brother to the hospital!" Bono shouted, then he immediately picked Zhilan up and hailed down a taxi to the hospital. He urged the others to carry He Da into the vehicle and they all made a beeline for the hospital.
The sudden reveal that the beggar was He Zhilan’s long-lost brother baffled Bono and the others. Fortunately, after being admitted to the hospital, He Zhilan was found to be in no immediate danger. However, she did have internal injuries, the most severe one being on her back, where her blood had mixed with her clothes. The image of the nurses cutting open He Zhilan’s clothes and revealing her gruesome wound was so terrifying that Lihua didn’t even have the courage to look at it for a second time.
Concerned about He Zhilan’s injuries, He Da managed to hold up, only retiring to his hospital room after it was confirmed that Zhilan’s life was not in danger.
For He Da, everything that happened this night felt like a dream.
He was saved and he could finally return to the home he had been longing for.
But He Zhilan, his stubborn little sister from the He family, ended up unconscious in the neighboring hospital room because she had saved him.
He Da thought that the miracle granted to him came at a great cost. If he could choose, he would rather bear all of Zhilan’s injuries himself.
It was also his incompetence, his inability to fight off the attackers, which is why Zhilan had to shield him, pinning him protectively beneath her.
Looking at his empty trouser leg, where a dreadful wound was situated, he thought, if it weren’t for the loss of that leg, perhaps, he could’ve left the city and returned home sooner.
However, the loss of this leg was precisely the price he had paid for his numerous escapes.
It wasn’t until noon the next day that He Zhilan woke up. She felt extremely remorseful for putting the team’s work on hold.
"I’m sorry, Bono. I was supposed to help you with your work, but instead, you ended up saving me and my elder brother. Thank you all, and I’m really sorry."
"You’re an exceptionally kind, brave, and strong girl! Do you know that? In our eyes, you’re a hero!" Bono said, full of praises, "You’re the bravest girl I’ve ever met! Even after they beat you so badly, you never let go!"
"Don’t worry, Zhilan. Bono has postponed our work for two days. You should rest in the hospital during this time, and when you’re feeling better, you can join our work again! The doctor said that after two days of observation in the hospital, you can go home to recuperate. At that time, we’ll arrange for them to meet us at the hotel, and you can continue to participate in our work!" Lihua informed her.
"Really?" He Zhilan was delighted, "Thank you all!"
As long as she could do more to make up for the work that was delayed because of her, she wouldn’t mind even if Bono decided to conduct work meetings in the hospital.